Protas missed the final six games of the regular season and missed Game 1, but could return to the lineup for Game 2. The 24-year-old Protas scored an impressive 66 points (30G / 36A) in 76 games this season.
The Capitals had a dramatic 3-2 overtime win over the Montreal Canadiens in Game 1 and will likely roll with Thompson between the pipes on Wednesday for Game 2. Thompson was excellent in Game 1, his first game in nearly three weeks, perfect through two periods and saving 33 of 35 shots (.943 SV%) in the victory. The 28-year-old Thompson made his playoff debut last season with the Vegas Golden Knights and improved his career totals to a 2.27 GAA and .926 SV% in five games (3-2-0). The Capitals enter Game 2 as -172 home favorites against the Canadiens.
Thompson has not played since April 2nd, recovering from an upper-body injury, but has practiced the last several days. The 28-year-old Thompson had an outstanding 2024-25 campaign, his first with the Capitals, posting a 2.49 GAA and .910 SV% in 43 games (31-6-6). That said, he struggled in the latter half of the season, posting a 3.22 GAA and .877 SV% in his final 13 appearances (7-4-2). The Capitals enter Game One against the Montreal Canadiens as -179 home favorites
Protas missed the final six games of the regular season and will miss Game 1, but is expected to play at some point in the series. Anthony Beauvillier has been skating in the Capitals' top-6 recently to replace Protas.
Trineyev was a fourth-round pick of the Capitals in 2020 and has spent the last two seasons in Hershey (AHL) after coming over from the KHL. In 2024-25, Trineyev had 14 goals and eight assists (22 points) in 62 games.
Thompson has not played since April 2nd, recovering from an upper-body injury, but has practiced the last several days. He was the first goalie off the ice at Washington's morning skate on Monday, typically indicating the starting goalie. The 28-year-old Thompson had an outstanding 2024-25 campaign, his first with the Capitals, posting a 2.49 GAA and .910 SV% in 43 games (31-6-6). That said, he struggled in the latter half of the season, posting a 3.22 GAA and .877 SV% in his final 13 appearances (7-4-2). The Capitals enter Game One against the Montreal Canadiens as -179 home favorites.
Stevenson will make his NHL debut on Thursday in Washington's season-finale against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Stevenson is an undrafted netminder who has spent most of the previous three seasons playing for the Hershey Bears (AHL). The 26-year-old Stevenson has a 2.94 GAA and .888 SV% in 33 games with Hershey this season (18-8-4). Washington enters Thursday's contest as -108 road favorites against Pittsburgh.
Leason will slot in for Anaheim's regular season finale on Wednesday after sitting out Tuesday's game in Minnesota. Jansen Harkins will sit in his place.
In his seventh season with the Capitals, Dowd has scored a career-high 27 points (14G / 13A) in 81 games and has been rewarded with a two-year, $6-million contract extension. The 34-year-old Dowd has 176 points (84G / 92A)) in 581 career games.
Carlson did not play Washington's previous game and will remain out on Tuesday against the New York Islanders. The 35-year-old defenseman is averaging 23:34 time-on-ice and has 51 points (5G / 46A) in 79 games this season.
Chisholm has been a lineup regular for Minnesota lately, but he will head to the sidelines as a healthy scratch on Tuesday against the Anaheim Ducks. The 25-year-old Chisholm is averaging 17:00 time-on-ice and has 12 points (2G / 10A) in 66 games this season.
Carlson did not play Washington's previous game but could return to the lineup on Tuesday against the New York Islanders. The 35-year-old defenseman is averaging 23:34 time-on-ice and has 51 points (5G / 46A) in 79 games this season.
Washington has been outscored 11-1 during a two-game losing skid (0-2-0) and will turn to Lindgren between the pipes on Tuesday against the New York Islanders. Lindgren struggled in his most recent outing, allowing four goals on 23 shots (.826 SV%) in a 4-1 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets. The 31-year-old netminder has an ugly 3.41 GAA and .861 SV% in six April appearances (3-2-0). The Capitals enter Tuesday's contest as slight -106 road favorites against an Islanders team coming off a 1-0 win over the New Jersey Devils.
